Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912
Harah Family Biography
This family came to America from Scotland, their native land. The American founder, Charles Harah, born February 8, 1744, settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the family home for two generations. He was a soldier of the revolution, serving in the Jersey campaign in Colonel Thomas Porter 's regiment. He was an early settler of Little Britain, in Lancaster county, where he followed farming. He married Margaret Gilchrist, in Scotland, and had issue born in that country, and Samuel, mentioned below.
(II) Samuel, son of Charles and Margaret (Gilchrist) Harah, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1787. He lived in Lancaster county, then removed westward, crossing the mountains to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he became a large landowner and prosperous farmer, being taxed for three hundred and seventy acres of land. He married Jane Steele, who died aged ninety-one years. They later moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where both died.
(III) John S., son of Samuel and Jane (Steele) Harah, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1826, and died November 9, 1905. He was one year old when his parents moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he was educated and lived all his life. He was a prosperous merchant, and bore his full share in the upbuilding of his town. He was of quiet, retiring disposition and took no active part in political or public life. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Republican in politics. He was a member of the Masonic order, and an Odd Fellow, taking a leading part in the work of these orders. He married Annette McKee, born March 5, 1837, in Fayette county, who yet survives him, a resident of Uniontown. She is a daughter of Francis and Joanna (Allen) McKee, and a granddaughter of John and Mary (Seaburn) McKee. John McKee was born in Ireland, where he learned the weaver's trade.
He came to America at the beginning of the revolutionary war and at once enlisted in the Continental army. He settled first in Burks, then in Northampton and Wyoming counties, finally coming to Fayette county, where he died in Washington township, in 1809. He married Mary Seaburn, and had issue: Anna, born April 16, 1790; John, October 17, 1792; Thomas, January 22, 1796; Henry, May 11, 1798; Hugh April 18, 1800; Catherine, January 29, 1802; Francis, of further mention; Mary, January 17, 1808; Margaret, January 5, 1810; Jesse, January 6, 1812; Ephraim, January 4, 1815. Of the sons, Hugh and Henry settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Thomas in Wayne county, Ohio, Francis McKee, the sixth child, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1804, died December 15, 1863. He came to Fayette county with his parents in 1809, and although he had few school advantages, so informed and educated himself that he taught school for a time. He then became clerk in a Brownsville store, later became himself, a merchant. He prospered and became both wealthy and influential. He was a stalwart Democrat and opposed to banking on general principles, national banking especially. On entering the record of the birth of his son, Joseph A., he wrote: "and born of democratic parents, shall be taught democratic principles, and when he becomes a man, I hope he will oppose the United States Bank." He married, March 22, 1836, Joanna, daughter of Joseph Allen. Children: Annette, of previous mention, wife of John S. Harah; Josephine, born April 15, 1838, deceased, married S. S. Jack, of Decatur. Illinois; Joseph A., December 4, 1839, married Susan M. Church; Mary, deceased, married Calvin Powers; Celia, born November 23, 1848, married A. L. Moser, of Uniontown. Francis McKee, the father, died December 15, 1863, in his forty-fifth year. Joanna, his wife, survived him; residing with her daughter Annette in Uniontown until her death, September 6, 1899, in her eighty-fourth year.
Children of John S. and Annette (McKee) Harah: 1. Annette, married George Pearce. 2. Grace B., married Isaac Jackson. 3. John S., succeeded his father in mercantile business and so continues (1912), unmarried. 4. George S., of further mention. 5. Charles B., born July 24, 1868, died January 17, 1911.
(IV) George S., son of John S. and Annette (McKee) Harah, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1861. He was educated in the public school of Uniontown and at a commercial school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began business life in his father's store as manager, continuing until 1896. He then assisted in the organization of the Second National Bank of Uniontown, and was chosen cashier, and in 1911 was elected vice-president; and has been a member of the board of directors from date of organization, and which positions he most capably fills. He has other business interests, principally in coal and coke enterprises, notably the Puritan and Century Coke companies. He is a director of the Tower Hill Coke Company, the Uniontown Grocery Company, the Coke Producers Association and an officer and director of a number of other industries for the building up and employment of labor, Mr. Harah is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Athletic Club of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and of the Laurel Club of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.
|
| Harah at RootsWeb
|
Harah at RootsWeb
Harah in a metasearch of the oldest largest free genealogy site.
Harah in USGenWeb
Harah in the Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives of genealogy records transcriptions.
|
|
| Site Features
|
Quick Search Surname Finder
Enter your surname once to search 20 huge genealogy databases.
Search Help
Learn how to make your ancestor search more productive.
Free Genealogy
Free genealogy resources: charts, lessons, software, databases, look ups, relationship charts, form letters, translation services.
Ancestry Free Trials
Free trials to Ancestry and Genealogy.com databases. Census, immigration, UK & Ireland, Genealogy Library, much more. Why pay when you can view for free?
|
|
|
